The most important subject Mr. Bay may ever tackle...

Rating: 5/10 (17 August 2005)

Regardless of the Producer's comments concerning Ms. Johanssen's and Mr. McGregor's connection with the audience, it is clear in the film that the actors are reflecting the stunted emotional depth of their characters. This aspect of the performances may get lost in the explosions and car chases, because it is one of the more nuanced and subtle aspects of the film. While I respect Mr. Bay's craft as a filmmaker, I'm not part of the demographic he is targeting usually. So, I just can't "get into" Mr. Bay's films, even though they look great. I'm missing something from practically every one of them. Except this one. The Island has that thing I'm looking for, but midway through, the film just morphs into a tired (yes, it's tired...) action-movie string of set-piece "stunt-gredients". The basis for the film, the reason The Island exists... that has weight and gravity and a sense of urgency, but it is exhausted(!) in the first "Act". It's clear that Mr. Bay is really only interested in having 17 to 22 year-old's buy tickets for his films, because he seems to be ignoring the intellectual and emotional demands of audiences over 30 yrs old. I don't want that to sound like a criticism, designed to nullify Mr. Bay's effectiveness as a filmmaker. What I hope is that Mr. Bay listens to this comment as an invitation from a great, vast audience of people hungry for some compelling cinema. Are you up to the challenge, Mr. Bay? We anxiously await your answer, with millions of dollars of ticket money that we will not part with until we're given better reasons to go to the cinemas on the opening weekend.